"Papaya" – a powerhouse of nutrients

Papaya (পেঁপে), the Carica papaya (Sanskrit: Erand-karkati, Amtritatumbi, Hindi: Papitaa) effectively treats and improves all types of digestive and abdominal disorders. Papaya sap contains an enzyme "papain" a milky juice is a rich source of proteolytic enzymes, a digestive enzyme-papaintha, chymopapain, alkaloids carpaine and pseudocarpaine, and antioxidant nutrients which have antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties, and emmenagogue. It as a whole improves cardiovascular system. Latex can be applied topically on eczema, ringworm, psoriasis, corns, warts, sloughing wounds, carbuncles, and burn eschar. It is also known as abortifacient.

A major problem in our diets today is that we only partially digest the protein foods we consume. This is due in part to the insufficient hydrochloric acid output by the stomach as a mucoprotein or plasma protein which forms excessive mucus and dead tissues. The proteolytic action of the papain can digest the protein we consume so that the accumulation of trapped plasma protein can be prevented, which can reduce arthritis also.

Papain possesses a very powerful digestive action superior to pepsin and pancreatin, acts as a powerful mucus and pus solvent. Hence, no wonder this enzyme is established as a weapon to cure colon cancer.

Green fruits of papaya are used to treat high blood pressure, dyspepsia, constipation, amenorrhoea, general debility, expel worms and stimulate reproductive organs.

Home remedies practices

In an age when prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications are so plentiful and varied, we tend to forget that the vast number of these may well derive from common vegetation to be found in our local forests, bush, and wetlands. (Essortment.com, 2002).

Papaya sap put into a small scraped out hole in a sugar bonbon or batasha and taken during the morning hours in empty stomach helps in curing acute liver dysfunction. Papaya sap can be collected by tapping the oldest fruits while they are still entirely green (better to be collected while still in the tree) for getting the higher yields of latex milk.

Papaya sap in sugar drops (batasha)

Making of a sweet sugar drop – Batasha

Cosmetic benefits

The papaya vinegar with lemon juice can be applied to the scalp for 20 minutes prior to shampooing to fight dandruff.

Papaya peel is often used in cosmetics. The papaya peel can also be used in many home remedies.

Application of peel with a little milk and honey protects, soothes and moisturizes the skin.

Papaya peel simmered in olive oil, almond oil and rosehip oil, and the resulting papaya oil massaged onto the skin and used with honey and rose water Works as a skin toner and skin cleanser.

Adding papaya oil and vinegar to bath water, with oils like lavender, orange and rosemary, helps in refreshing and relaxing, and can work as a pain reliever and muscle relaxants.

Sunscreen and Soothing Slave: The presence of vitamin A helps to restore and rebuild damaged skin. Papaya peel is used as a skin lightening agent. When peel is mixed with honey and applied, it can act as softener and moisturizers the skin.

Allergies and Side Effects: Papaya is frequently used as a hair conditioner, but should be used in small amounts. Papaya releases a latex fluid when not quite ripe, which can cause irritation and provoke allergic reaction in some people.

Skin Discoloration: Eating too much of a yellow, green or orange colored food that contains Beta-carotene can cause a benign form of skin discoloration called carotenemia. The palms of the hands and soles of the feet are the most visible areas of the body affected by carotenemia. Cutting back on your papaya consumption will resolve the discoloration of the skin.

Cosmetic Benefits of Papaya: Rubbing the white pulp of raw papaya improves pimples as well as wrinkles. Papaya works as a good bleaching agent. It is an important ingredient in bath soaps, astringents, detergent bars and hand washes. Papaya can help in removing dead worn-out skin cells and replace it with healthy new cells, thereby lightening the color of our skin. For this, one can prepare a paste of raw papaya and apply it on the skin once for few days.

Prep time: 00:10
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Total time: 00:15 | Yield: 2 servingsIngredients
Ingredients:
Thankuni pata/ Centella leaves, 2 bunches about 100 g Green chilies 2 Kalo jeera (onion seeds), 1 tsp Salt to taste Oil 1 tspA pinch of sugar to balance the tasteInstructions: Take the leaves from bunches (you can use whole leaves with stigma). Wash and clean thoroughly and keep in a big bowl of lukewarm water for 5 minutes. Take out leaves from water, do not strain, use your hand and remove leaves from water carefully.Though thankuni is usually not attacked by pets and diseases of serious nature, but this a small,…

Bhut chadurdoshi and Choddo Shak - 14 Greens ritualBhut chadurdoshi and Choddo Shak - 14 Greens ritual
Green Gaga
By Barnali Dutta,
published by Prasadam: October 22, 2014Tomorrow is Kali puja. On this day the Mother, the Goddess of Strength [Shakti], the source of all, the universal principle of energy, power or creativity is worshipped and this is also known as the famous Festival of Lights - Diwali. By Diwali I remember that in the market today, alongside large displays of fire crackers, lined up wicker baskets full of green herb is to be found too. In no time I had decided and amassed with lots of health arrived there. Truely, it is a rare opportunity to have so many rare edible green vegetables available in the market in Kolkata these days.

According to our forefathers this is the time at the end of the monsoons when people should start eating herbs in Bengal. I still wonder how much have we progressed or advanced or modernized from our forefathers. Man has left behind a wonde…